No decision on Bluesky sale yet - P.M. Tuilaepa

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has confirmed that the government has not made a final decision on the sale of Bluesky to a Fiji government-owned company.

Asked for his thoughts on the decision by the Spain-owned company Amper SA to sack Bluesky Chief Executive Officer, Aoe’e Adolfo Montenegro, Tuilaepa said it was purely business.

“That is how things are,” he responded.

“But government has not made a final decision (on Bluesky sale).”

He did not elaborate.

The government of Samoa holds 25percent shares of Bluesky Samoa Ltd and 26 percent of Bluesky Pacific Holding Ltd through the Unit Trust of Samoa.

Last week, Toleafoa Douglas Creevey was appointed as the interim C.E.O. of Bluesky as Amper SA finalises the sale of the company to Fiji company, Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (A.T.H).

The appointment of Toleafoa follows a decision from Amper SA to terminate the services of Aoe’e.

In a press statement, Amper and A.T.H have confirmed that a definitive Sale and Purchase Agreement has been signed for the sale of Bluesky Pacific Group companies, and Amper is in the process of obtaining necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals.

Another statement from Bluesky confirmed that Mr. Jaime Espinosa the Chairman of Bluesky’s parent company Amper now assumes the role of Group C.E.O of Bluesky Pacific Group.

The statement did not give the reasons behind the decision.

“Montenegro has been the C.E.O of Bluesky since 2008 and he has led the company’s significant regional expansion across the Pacific where it now operates in Samoa, American Samoa, the Cook Islands and New Zealand.”

In a recent interview with Regulator, Unutoa Auelua – Fonoti she made it clear that her office needs to authorised the sale of Bluesky before it can go approved.

“At the moment I haven’t been given any official communication from them about the purchase,” said Unutoa.

“Under the law, any purchase needs to be approved by us. There are procedures that needs to be fulfilled before that can be done.”

The Regulator confirmed she has met with A.T.H but it was only to inform their Office about the initial negotiations.